NEW YORK (November 14, 2011)鈥擱esearchers and conservationists from the 菊花视频鈥檚 Guatemala Program, WCS鈥檚 Bronx Zoo, the National Park Service of Guatemala, and other groups report a major conservation victory from Central America: a bumper crop of magnificent scarlet macaw fledglings that have now taken flight over the forests of Guatemala. The newly fledged birds total 29 macaws, a big success for conservationists working in the Maya Biosphere Reserve who were hoping to record at least one fledgling from each monitored nest (24 nests in total) during the 2011 season. The monitoring program focused on helping weak and at-risk chicks鈥攕ome of which were removed from tree cavity nests and hand-reared in a jungle hospital鈥攚ith guidance from the Bronx Zoo鈥檚 Department of Ornithology and veterinarians from the Global Health Program. The rehabilitated chicks were then fostered back in nests with chicks of the same age, a procedure that greatly increased the chances of survival for these rare birds. 鈥淭he success in increasing the nesting success of scarlet macaws through intensive chick management and fostering is a great step forward for macaw conservation,鈥� said WCS Conservationist Rony Garcia. 鈥淲e believe the lessons learned can not only help save the scarlet macaw in Guatemala, but be extended to help other threatened species of parrots and cavity nesters across the globe.鈥� With a total estimated population of some 300 macaws in the country, each successfully fledged bird is critical for the survival of the species. The bumper crop of fledglings in the 2011 season stands in stark contrast to the 2003 season that registered only one fledgling from 15 nests. Monitoring scarlet macaw nests is not for the faint of heart. Researchers need to be able to climb trees (often with the aid of rappelling lines up to 30 meters above the canopy floor) to inspect nests, mount video cameras, and sometimes remove sick chicks from the nesting cavities. Researchers from WCS鈥檚 Guatemala Program received key off-site assistance from Dr. Nancy Clum, Curator of Ornithology at WCS鈥檚 Bronx Zoo, who provided guidance in the care of the at-risk chicks, and Drs. Bonnie Raphael and Robert Moore of WCS鈥檚 Global Health Program, who provided health screening for pathogens. WCS has been working to conserve the scarlet macaw鈥攐ne of the world鈥檚 largest parrot species鈥攕ince 2001, protecting the species from habitat destruction and poaching for the pet trade. WCS also works to strengthen government capacity for enforcement, particularly in Maya Biosphere Reserve, where an estimated 95 percent of scarlet macaws in the country live and nest, and support local communities that protect macaw habitat in forest concessions. 鈥淲ith 10 years of effort, we have succeeded in developing an effective mix of interventions that will ensure the long-term persistence of the scarlet macaw in Guatemala,鈥� said Dr. Julie Kunen, Director of WCS鈥檚 Latin America and Caribbean Program. Roan McNab, Director of WCS鈥檚 Guatemala Program, said: 鈥淥ur current challenge is to maintain these interventions until we see a significant increase in the number of active nests within the Maya Biosphere Reserve landscape.鈥� The scarlet macaw project benefits from the support of USAID, BBC Wildlife Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, and LeFebre Conservation, among others. Contract: 聽 John Delaney: (1-718-220-3275; jdelaney@wcs.org <mailto:jdelaney@wcs.org> ) Stephen Sautner: (1-718-220 3682; ssautner@wcs.org <mailto:ssautner@wcs.org> ) 聽 The 菊花视频 saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. 聽We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. 聽Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. 聽WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth.聽
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